[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 72 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PARITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE

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                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 5, 1998

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention of this 
Congress a study that has found that health insurance coverage for 
mental health is being cut far faster than issuance coverage for 
physical injury and illness.
  This study found that mental health benefit costs have been slashed 
six times as often as general health benefit costs over the past 10 
years. Where the value of general health benefits has declined 7 
percent (from $2,326.86 per covered individual in 1988 to $2,155.60 in 
1997), the value of mental health benefits has declined 54 percent 
(from $154.08 in 1988 to $69.61 in 1997), according to the report.
  This study was prepared by the Hay Group on behalf of the National 
Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, the Association of 
Behavioral Group Practices and the National Alliance for the Mentally 
Ill.
  As the study shows, discrimination in benefits for mental health care 
persists. Mental health care has been, and remains, subject to 
different limits, caps, and deductibles than general health care. In 
addition, these caps, limits, and deductibles have not raised 
substantially in the past 10 years to account for inflation. That 
translates into additional erosion of the behavioral health benefit.
  This is discrimination. And this is the reason the House Mental 
Health Working Group and I have introduced comprehensive legislation 
requiring health insurance companies to establish parity between mental 
health and substance abuse coverage and coverage for physical illnesses 
and injury.
  The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Act would prohibit 
insurance companies from setting spending limits for mental health and 
substance abuse coverage that are lower than limits set for physical 
illness or injury. Legislation introduced and passed with my initiative 
in 1996 prohibited unequal limits on annual and lifetime spending 
levels. This legislation goes further by prohibiting limitations on the 
frequency of treatments, number of visits, or other limitations on 
treatment not imposed for medical-surgical treatment. It would also 
prohibit copayments, deductibles, out-of-network charges, and out-of-
pocket contributions or fees not imposed for medical surgical 
treatment.
  This bill has been endorsed by the Coalition for Fairness in Mental 
Illness Coverage, which includes the American Medical Association, 
American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, 
National Mental Health Association, National Alliance for the Mentally 
Ill, American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association, Federation of 
American Health Systems and National Association of Psychiatric Health 
Systems.
  The cost of mental health parity is small, especially when weighed 
against its benefits. A study by the Department of Health and Human 
Service's Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administrations found the average increase in insurance premiums 
necessary to achieve parity for mental health coverage would be only 
3.4 percent. Adding both mental health and substance abuse parity would 
require a combined increase of 3.6 percent.
  Mental illness is not a character flaw, but a tangible treatable 
health problem as real as hypertension, cancer or heart disease. Today, 
the advances of our medical system have given us scientific 
breakthroughs that make appropriate care as effective for mental 
illness as insulin is for a diabetic.
  It is time that health insurance plans recognize that mental illness 
is an illness. Most people who suffer from mental illnesses can live 
normal lives if they receive treatment but most can't receive treatment 
if their insurance won't pay for it.
  The bottom line is that discrimination against people with mental and 
addictive disorders still exists. It must end.




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